It is known as one of the most beautiful drives in the world, with more than 800 miles of stunning coastland and incredible vistas taking you around the entire island country.

The Ring Road, also known as Route 1, is Iceland's main road. It circles the island, connecting coastal villages and offering a route to major attractions like the Golden Circle, Seljalandsfoss waterfall, and the Eastfjords. 

The famous ‘Ring Road’ is a 1,322 km (828 miles) loop connecting most towns and villages. It is a road trip renowned for its variety of scenery, mountain passes, deep fjords, and many of Iceland’s most iconic sites.

Looping the entire country, the Iceland Ring Road is known as one of the most breathtaking road trips in the world. It is a trip of a lifetime that takes you around the entire perimeter of a country.

The Rick Steves Iceland guidebook includes an in-depth chapter on the road and recommends leaving at least five days to complete the trip.

VisitIceland.com recommends: "Renting a car is the easiest and most flexible way to explore the Ring Road at your own pace.

"While public transport operates year-round, schedules can be unpredictable outside the summer months. Alternatively, joining a guided tour is a great option, often lasting at least seven days and offering valuable insights—and some entertaining sagas along the way." 

Officially marked as Route 1 on maps, the Ring Road requires close monitoring of road conditions, especially outside the summer season. 

SafeTravel provides an up-to-date map with information on road closures, snow and wind conditions, and volcanic and weather alerts. Driving in Iceland can be extreme and challenging, so be prepared!

According to VisitIceland.com. "Travellers hitting the Ring Road can leave Reykjavík heading east or north. There is no right or wrong way!"

They say the southern route from Reykjavík to Egilsstaðir is often considered the more scenic stretch, with breathtaking waterfalls, glacial lagoons, and iconic sights visible right from the road.

However, this doesn’t mean the rest of Iceland deserves less attention—detours to the Eastfjords or the Snæfellsnes Peninsula reveal equally stunning landscapes and hidden gems.

The southern part of Iceland is the flattest part of the country. There the road hugs the coastline. The area is best known for its waterfalls and glacial scenery, such as Seljalandsfoss and Skógafoss waterfalls, Dyrhólaey cliffs, Vatnajökull National Park, and Jökulsárlón Glacier Lagoon.

Glacial tounges extend from ice-caped volcanoes down into valleys and can be visited up close in the region of Skaftafell. However finding available accommodation between Selfoss and Höfn during the summer is often challenging, so Visit Iceland recommend booking well in advance.

Travel guru and senior travel editor for the Independent newspaper, Simon Calder, highlights the Iceland Ring Road as "a great sustainable road trip, offering access to unique natural wonders, opportunities for wild camping, and a chance to experience the country's rural environment, including the Blue Lagoon." 

Flights to Reykjavík with easyJet or Icelandair from around £41 one waywith an average three hours flight time.